Academic Support & Success
Many resources are available at no additional cost to help undergraduates achieve Academic Success at Princeton. Keep in mind that it is normal and expected that you will be intellectually challenged in many aspects of your academic work, and that you will need help outside the classroom. It is best to seek this help early on, rather than waiting until you feel lost or overwhelmed. The resources below do not exclude each other: you may want to join a study group and attend review sessions. Your residential college dean or director of studies can help you decide which resources might be best for you.
Office Hours and Review Sessions
All Princeton instructors offer office hours open to their undergraduate students. Office hours with professors or instructors are an excellent place to start if you need some academic help. In quantitative fields such as math or chemistry, course heads often organize review sessions (weekly, or before exams). Led by graduate student instructors, these optional meetings provide students with an additional resource for learning course material.
McGraw Study Hall @ Frist
McGraw’s study hall offers academic support in introductory chemistry, economics, mathematics, physics, and integrated science. Experienced, trained undergraduate tutors are available four evenings a week to guide students through learning strategies for course materials, thinking through problem sets and the concepts underlying them, and preparing for exams. Located on the 300 level of Frist Campus Center, no appointments are necessary; McGraw Study Hall is open Sunday through Wednesday evenings from 7:30 – 10:30 pm throughout the semester.
Study Groups in the Residential Colleges—Chemistry, Math, and Physics
To help freshmen and sophomores excel in core chemistry, physics, and math classes, the residential colleges and the McGraw Center organize tutor-facilitated study groups in those fields. Led by department-recommended tutors, the study groups meet regularly during the semester. These small groups work on problem sets and strategies for applying concepts in exams, but also emphasize stepping back from the problems to review concepts and material and get a big picture. Tutor-facilitated study groups are offered for PHY 103; CHM 201 and 303; and Calculus (MAT 103-201). The groups are publicized through the course instructors.
Individual Peer Tutoring
If you are encountering challenges in a course that you believe can best be addressed through individual work with a tutor, contact your dean or director of studies. Free one-on-one peer tutoring is available most commonly for introductory courses in chemistry, physics, biology, math, economics, and foreign languages. Individual tutoring may be especially helpful if you feel like you need help with specific parts of a course, or if your previous experience did not include preparation in an essential topic.
Additional Advising Resources
There are many places to find information and support at Princeton, and you will find resources tailored to your specific needs or interests by talking with your faculty adviser, your Dean or Director of Studies, or your instructors. To get you started we’ve put together a list of the more common programs, offices, and sources of information.
Academic Guides and Resources
The Academic Guides and Resources page lists many resources designed to support Princeton students. Examples include the Undergraduate Announcement, Freshman Academic Guide, Honor Code, Major Choices, Guide to Study Abroad, McGraw for Undergraduates, and the Junior Project Handbook.
Advising for Health Professions
The Office of Health Professions Advising serves students and alumni of Princeton University who are planning or considering a career in health care. In addition to information for the pre-medical student, those interested in osteopathic medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, public health, or any of the other health professions may also find helpful material here.
Career Services at Princeton
Career Services is committed to educating the Undergraduate and Graduate students of Princeton University in the areas of self-assessment, career exploration, career planning and job hunting.
International Opportunities
The Office of International Programs provides information and resources for Princeton students who want to spend time abroad. In addition to administering summer and regular-term study abroad programs, this office also supports students seeking international internships.